Celebrating Partnership and Vision: Tuolumne River Trust Honored with California State Parks Director's Recognition Award

We are thrilled to share that Tuolumne River Trust, alongside our incredible partners River Partners and the Lyons family, was honored with the Partnership Award at California State Parks' 22nd Annual Director's Recognition Award ceremony in Sacramento. This recognition celebrates something we've always known to be true: the most transformative conservation work happens when communities come together with shared vision and unwavering commitment.

A Thread Connecting Mountains to Valley

As our Executive Director Patrick Koepele reflected during his acceptance speech, this award represents more than recognition—it symbolizes the creation of "a new thread" connecting California's most treasured landscapes. The Tuolumne River begins its journey in Yosemite National Park and now flows into Dos Rios Ranch State Park, California's newest state park. This connection weaves together the mountains, the Central Valley, and ultimately the Bay Area, creating a continuous corridor of protected and restored habitat.

"It's just thrilling to see a park along the Tuolumne River and kind of creating a new thread," Patrick shared with the ceremony attendees. This thread represents not just geography, but the bonds between communities, conservation organizations, and families who share a vision for healthy rivers and accessible outdoor spaces.

Partnership Award Presented to Tuolumne River Trust at 26:50; Patrick’s speech at 39:00.

The Power of Partnership Over Two Decades

What began as TRT's vision in the early 2000s became reality through extraordinary dedication from partners who understood that meaningful change takes time. When Patrick first began seeking landowners who shared our vision for wetland restoration, he found kindred spirits in the Lyons family—Central Valley farmers with conservation already woven into their agricultural practices.

The Lyons family's conservation ethic runs deep. Bill Lyons Sr., a third-generation farmer, had already partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. The family's ecological work, including growing crops to benefit the threatened Aleutian Cackling Goose, contributed to that species' recovery and removal from the endangered species list—a rare conservation success story.

River Partners brought essential expertise and leadership to transform vision into reality. As River Partners President Julie Reed noted during the ceremony, "We worked on this project for over a decade, and through that work, learned so much about partnership." River Partners' dedication to floodplain restoration and their collaborative approach made them the perfect partner to help navigate the complex process of land acquisition and restoration planning. Together with TRT, River Partners raised $22 million to purchase the ranch by 2012, with River Partners taking title and TRT holding the conservation easement.

River Partners' commitment extended beyond the initial acquisition. They understood that Dos Rios represented something unprecedented—the largest public-private floodplain restoration project in California, restoring vital habitat while creating new public recreation opportunities in a region where such opportunities were scarce.

A Community Effort That Couldn't Have Happened Without You

This recognition belongs to every supporter, volunteer, and community member who believed in this vision when it seemed impossible. Over two decades, hundreds of individuals contributed their time, expertise, and resources to make Dos Rios a reality. Without our river community's unwavering support—from initial feasibility studies to the massive fundraising effort—this project would never have succeeded.

As Bill Lyons shared during the ceremony, the journey spanned decades: "During this pathway, I had four marriages and nine grandchildren." This timeline reflects what we know about river restoration: meaningful change flows like the river itself, with steady persistence eventually creating powerful transformation.

Continuing Our Partnership Through Education and Recreation

Receiving this Partnership Award celebrates ongoing collaboration that continues to grow. We're particularly excited about our expanding partnership with Dos Rios to host outdoor education and recreation events for local families. In a region where public recreation opportunities have been historically limited, these programs create new pathways for Central Valley families to connect with restored natural spaces.

Our education programs invite local students and families to experience how restoration and recreation work together. Children learn about native plant restoration, wildlife habitat, flood management, and the land's cultural history. These experiences plant seeds that will grow into the next generation of conservation leaders.

Looking Forward: Inspiring Others

Perhaps the most important aspect of this recognition is its potential to inspire others. As Patrick emphasized, "I hope that this work and the partnership inspires others to follow a similar path, if they see a vision, if they can kind of realize that vision, even if it's not going to be easy, that they stick with it and reach out to those who can help to make it a reality."

The Dos Rios story offers a replicable model: identify a shared vision, build authentic partnerships, maintain commitment through challenges, and trust in the power of collaboration. The approximately 1,600-acre property demonstrates that ambitious conservation visions can become reality when communities work together.

A Future Built on Partnership

As we celebrate this recognition, we're reminded that the strongest conservation work grows from relationships—between organizations, families, and generations. The Partnership Award recognizes not just what we've accomplished, but the collaborative spirit that makes transformational conservation possible.

We couldn't have done any of this without you. This award belongs to all of us, representing our shared commitment to healthy rivers, thriving communities, and a future where conservation and recreation flow together naturally. Thank you for believing in this vision and being part of our river community. The best is yet to come.